From Ben Affleck to Suu Kyi, Hillary Clinton's emails reveal breadth of network
From Ben Affleck to Aung San Suu Kyi, the latest batch of released correspondence opens a window into presidential candidate's network
A new batch of Hillary Rodham Clinton's emails presented a glimpse into the breadth of her personal network - a long list of powerful celebrities, CEOs, political advisers and politicians that she is now tapping for her presidential campaign.
A political celebrity long before she became secretary of state in 2009, Clinton and her team balanced requests from a slew of boldface names. Lady Gaga complimented her, former British prime minister Tony Blair praised her for doing the "Lord's Work", Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi asked for technology help and former president Jimmy Carter pitched in on negotiations with North Korea.
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Hours later, Clinton emailed an aide: "I'd like to respond to Ben Affleck." A day later, she reminded an aide that she was still waiting for the aide to draft a reply: "I haven't yet received a draft and would like to respond today." The response to Affleck was censored in the email released on Friday by the State Department, because it was a draft version.
In another December 2011 note, civil rights leader and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson reached out to Clinton's staff with a request to talk to her before his visit to South Africa, asking how best to "represent her/Admin thinking on any issues/opportunities that might arise." He was quickly added to her call list.
On Friday, Jackson touted Clinton's candidacy before a meeting of black pastors in Atlanta, saying: "It's healing time. It's hope time. It's Hillary Clinton time."
Clinton has faced questions about whether her unusual email setup, which involved a private server located at her New York home, was sufficient to ensure the security of government information and retention of records.
At least two Senate committees are still investigating Clinton's email arrangement and seeking the release of correspondence from her top aides. The FBI is also investigating the security of Clinton's private email set-up.
Roughly half of Clinton's 30,000 work-related emails are now public, and the State Department's effort to release the rest will linger into next year. Most of the correspondence made public to date involves the mundane workings of government - scheduling meetings, organising secure phone lines and booking flights.
A few of the emails hint at the ways Clinton maintained her network of campaign donors, even while serving in a position at a distance from electoral politics. In a June 2011 message, an aide informs Clinton that long-time donor Susie Buell contributed US$200,000 towards a summit at which Clinton was to speak.
"She wants it to be wonderful for you," wrote Clinton aide Melanne Verveer.
